Wrench having spring-closed and lever-locked pivotal jaws



June 30, 1953 c. A. MILENTZ 2,643,568

' WRENCH HAVING SPRING-CLOSED AND LEVER-LOCKED PIVOTAL JAWS Filed April 14, 1952 FIGS. FIGZ. FIG.7.

52 WWW Patented June 30, 1953 WRENCH HAVING SPRING-CLOSED AND LEVER-LOCKED PIVOTAL JAWS Charles A. Milentz, St. Louis, Mo.

Application April 14, 1952, Serial No. 282,089

18 Claims.

This invention relates to wrenches, and more particularly to an end wrench which functions on a polygonal head as does a reversible ratchet Wrench but without the disadvantages of such wrenches on heads which cannot be reached in an axial direction.

Among the several objects of the invention may be noted the provision of an end wrench, the jaws of which, in a resilient condition, may be sprung sidewise over the head of a bolt or the like when its handle is in a neutral position, and upon angling of the handle from the neutral-position cause the jaws to engage the head in the geometrical interlocking manner of a socket wrench; the provision of a wrench of the class described, wherein the jaws return to resilient condition when the handle is angled in a retractive direction toward neutral position, whereby the jaws may rotate about said head preparatory to obtaining another engagement with the head; the provision of a wrench of the class described, including convenient latch means to condition the wrench for turning the head in either of two difierent directions in response to oscillating movements applied to the handle; and the provision of a wrench of this class which is strong, compact and the internal parts of which are substantially protected against entry of foreign objects. Other objects will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the elements and combinations of elements, features of construction, and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the structures hereinafter described, and the scope of which will be indicated in the following claims.

- In the accompanying drawings, in which one of various possible embodiments of the invention is illustrated,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of an entire wrench made according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation viewed from line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a cross section taken on line 4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a left side view of Fig. 2, with one-half of a cover being removed to expose interior parts, which are shown in a neutral position;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, showing said parts in an engaged driving position; and,

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6, showing said parts in a retractive relationship.

Corresponding. reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, numerals l and 3 indicate opposed halves of a housing 5 which has a generally circular part I and a protruding part 9, the latter being composed of spaced ears II. The parts i and 3 of the housing are joined by headed fastener pins [3 and I5. Segmental flanges ii abut to maintain space within the housing and between the ears H. Pivoted on the fastener pin iii are jaws l9 and 2 I. The jaws are made as thin as is consistent with strength. At regions of circular overlap 23 they are half as thick as elsewhere. Thus the jaws are sandwiched flush between the inner faces of the members II.

The jaws l9 and 2| carry inner levers 25' and 21, respectively flanking the inner end of the handle. 29 and 3!, respectively, for accepting a compression spring 33. This spring resiliently biases apart the lever members while biasing together the jaws l9 and 2!. The jaws have a limited motion toward one another, as determined by cooperating stops 35. A bight 39 between the jaws l9 and 2! is machined with hexagonally arranged sets of V-shaped notches 37 and 31, of which there are nine altogether, so that when the jaws are together, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, five of the notches 37 will fit five of the six corners of a hexagonal nut or bolt head 4| of appropriate size. The innermost notch is one-half on one jaw and one-half on the other. Thus there are four and one-half notches on each jaw. If desired the four notches 3? could be eliminated leaving the five notches 31 but in this event the angle required to be turned in order to gain a new grip on the head would be doubled and is not preferred. The geometry is preferably such as shown, wherein there is an interlock just when the stops 35 engage. By reason of the resiliency between jaws l9 and 2!, afiorded by the spring 33, if the wrench is pushed in the direction shown by the arrow of Fig. 5 against a head such as shown at M, the jaws will first spread apart in surrounding the head, the notches 3! ultimately having snap engagement with the hexagonal corners of the head, as shown. The spring 33 accounts for the required resilient operation of the jaws for this purpose.

A handle 43 carries a part inside the housing 5 which is pivoted on the fastener pin 13. This part comprises opposite lugs 45 located on a line substantially normal to the length of the handle. Guards 4'! on the handle serve normally to block the opening between the flange segments I! through which the handle passes. These protect against entry of foreign bodies. In the neutral position of the handle 43, the lugs 45ers These levers are provided with sockets opposite inside notches 49 on the lever members and 21. These notches 49 are flanked by interlocking portions 5|, 53, 55 and 51, which are preferably in the forms of wedging cams. Thus if the handle 43 is turned clockwise on fastener pin l3, portions 53 and 51 will be engaged by the lugs to effect an interlock. If the handle is turned anticlockwise, then cams 5| and are engaged with a wedging action by lugs 45. Reaction for the wedging action is supplied by the stops 35. Each wedging action serves to spread the lever members 25 and 27 and bring together the jaws I9 and 2|. Thus as the jaws close together on the stops 35, a wedging action occurs between the lugs and the cams which they engage. This so arranges the notches 31 with respect to the corners of the hexagon head 4| as to form an interlock with the head. Thus the wrench has the attributes of a socket wrench, so far as is concerned geometric interlocking action between its jaws and the hexagon head. Then as torque is applied to the handle 43, the head 4| may be turned. Turning may be in either direction. For example, in Fig. 6 turning is occurring in the anticlockwise direction.

In order that a ratcheting type of action may be obtained in either direction (but without employing a ratchet and pawl), the handle 43 is provided with a generally S-shaped slot 59. The arms BI and 63 of this slot are shaped concentrically with respect to the center of the pivotal fastener pin I3. They extend right and left. The stem 65 of the slot is preferably on the center line of the handle, which line includes the center of the fastener pin l3. Around the edge of the slot is a depressed shelf El. The slot itself receives a pin 69, around which is a shoulder H, the shoulder being accommodated on the shelf 61.

In the member is a slot 13 within which is a movable fiat extension 15 from the pin 59 and shoulder 1|. Fastened to the outer end of the extension 15 is a control button H which is in a convenient position to be manipulated by the thumb of an operators hand engaging the handle 43. Underneath the button 11 is located a leaf spring 19 which may arch in a recess 8| of the button. The spring has a rectangular opening 83 surrounding the rectangular form of the extension 15. The spring carries protrusions 85 for alternate engagement with detent recesses 81 formed on the top of member of the housing 5 adjacent the slot 13. Thus by pushing the button 77 to or from the center of fastener pin Hi,

the button may be made to take up alternative detent positions. One outward detent position is with the pin 69 arranged for engagement by the arm 63 of slot 59, as shown in Figs. 5, 6 and '7. In the other (inward) position (not shown) the pin 69 will be located at the other end of the stem 65 of the slot 59 for cooperation with the arm 6| of the S-shaped slot. Thus, depending upon the adjusted position of the pin 69, the handle 43 may be angled in one or another direction relative to housing 5. When the pin 69 is in an intermediate position in the stem '55, the handle 43 cannot move in either angling direction relative to the housing 5.

Operation is as follows, assuming that it is intended to turn the head 6| anticlockwise:

The wrench is pushed sidewise over the head (Fig. 5), which in the first part of the application spreads the jaws I9 and 2| against compression of the spring 33. After the jaws l9 and 2| are sufficiently over the head 4|, the spring snaps them together, engaging stops 35. The notches 35 then match the corners of the hexagonal head.

Assuming pin 99 to be opposite arm 63 of slot 59, the handle 43 may be angled anticlockwise (Fig. 6). This causes the lugs 45 to engage the cams or wedges 5| and 55 to preventthe jaws l9 and 2| from spreading apart. The slope of the cams 5| and 55 relative to the lugs 45 is such that under the required turning moment, applied to the jaws and head 4|, they cannot open. In other words, the slopes of cams 5| and 55 (as also of 53 and 51) are insufficient to push aside the lugs by reaction, when pressure is released from handle 43.

After the handle 43 has been turned through all the available angle (usually limited by parts surrounding the head 4|) it is turned back in a clockwise direction, as shown in Fig. 7. This has the effect initially of withdrawing the lugs 45 from the cams 5| and 55. The rotary motion of the handle 43 relative to the body 5 ends when the S-shaped slot 59 arrives at the position shown in Fig. 7, after which the only holding action on the jaws l9, 2| is expansive action of the spring 33. Thus upon further clockwise angling of the handle 43 and housing 5 as a unit, the jaws I9 and 2|, as they move around the hexagonal head 4|, spread apart as required, until the body 5 reaches a position in which they snap shut with the notches 31 on another set of corners of the hexagon head 4|. This places the wrench in a new initial position to start another stroke The angular strokes for applying torque and retraction may be repeated in much the same manner that an ordinary ratchet wrench is operated.

Obviously, the action which has been above described can be reversed, provided the pin 69 is positioned inward for engagement by the slot 6|.

One of the advantages of the invention is that, being an end wrench, it may reach any head or nut from the side. Ordinary socket wrenches can reach their nuts or heads only endwise and cannot be applied, for example, to nuts or packing glands on long rods and pipes, whereas the present wrench can.

The present wrench has advantages over wrenches having jaws with teeth which bite into a pipe or nut to provide the reaction for grip. The jaws l9 and 2| do not depend for their grip upon any such bite. These jaws are automati cally positioned in looking engagement with one another, whether or not a head such as 4| is in a position between them. This is because the locking reaction is provided by engagement of the stops 35 and not by the head 4|.

The action is reversible and easily predetermined by pushing the button either in (for clockwise action) or out (for anticlockwise action.

The wrench is compact, strong and foolproof, making it ideal for working in cramped quarters.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A wrench comprising a housing, a handle having an end pivoted on a first pivot within the housing, bight-forming jaws pivoted to said housing on a second pivot, levers extending from said jaws located within the housing and flanking the inner end of the handle within the housing, a spring resiliently biasing said levers apart so as resiliently to bias the jaws together, said levers being shaped to be movable with respect to the handle upon separation of the jaws against the resilient action of said spring when the handle is in a neutral position, and interlocking means between the inner end of the handle and the levers for locking apart the levers and locking together the jaws when the handle is in a position angled with respect to the neutral position.

2. A wrench made according to claim 1, wherein the jaws incorporate mutually engageable stops limiting their approach to one another.

3. A wrench made according to claim 1, wherein said interlocking means is constituted by at least one lug on the handle and at least one cooperating wedge on each lever.

4. A wrench made according to claim 1, wherein the handle is provided with a slot having a portion concentric relative to the first pivot and a portion radial thereto, and a movable pin on the housing adapted in one position to be received by said concentric portion, the direction of said concentric portion of the slot being such that it may move to receive the pin when the handle is moved 3.

toward its interlocking position.

5. A wrench made according to claim 1, wherein the jaws incorporate mutually engageable stops limiting their approach to one another, said jaws being shaped with V-shaped notches so related as to engage the corners of a polygon when the stops are engaged.

6. A wrench made according to claim 5, wherein said interlocking means is constituted by at least one lug on the handle and at least one cooperating wedge on each lever.

7. A wrench made according to claim 5, wherein the handle is provided with a slot having a portion concentric relative to the first pivot and a portion radial thereto, and a movable pin on the housing adapted in one position to be received by said concentric portion, the direction of said concentric portion of the slot being such that it may move to receive the pin when the handle is moved toward its interlocking position.

8. A wrench comprising a housing, a handle having an end pivoted on a first pivot within the housing, bight-forming jaws pivoted to said housing on a second pivot, levers extending from said jaws located within the housing and flanking the inner end of the handle within the housing, a spring resiliently biasing apart said levers so as to bias the jaws together, opposite lugs on said handle within the housing, each lever being shaped with clearance relative to said lugs sufficient that when the handle is in a neutral position said levers may move with respect to the lugs upon separation of the jaws against the resilient action of said spring, a pair of interlocking means on each lever flanking the respective lugs for holding the levers separated and holding together the jaws when the handle is in either of two opposite angled positions relative to its neutral position, and latch means between the housing and the handle adapted selectively to allow motion of the handle in either one or the other angled direction from neutral.

9. An end wrench made according to claim 8, wherein said jaws are provided with mutually engaging stops to limit their approach, and wherein the jaws are provided with V-shaped notches so related as to fit the corners of a polygon when the stops are engaged.

10. A wrench made according to claim 8, wherein said latch means is constituted by an S-shaped slot in the handle, the central portion of which is radial, and wherein there is a pin radially movable on the housing and engaging the slot.

11. An end wrench made according to claim 10, wherein detent means is provided between the pin and the housing adapted resiliently to detain the pin on one side or the other of said central portion of the slot for selective reception of the pin by either one or the other of the ends of the S- shaped slot.

12. A wrench made according to claim 8, wherein said jaws are provided with mutually engaging stops to limit their approach, and wherein the jaws are provided with two groups of V- shaped notches, the members of each group of which are so related as to fit the corner of a hexagon when the stops are engaged.

13. A wrench made according to claim 12, wherein said latch means is constituted by an S-shaped slot in the handle, the central portion of which is radial with respect to the first pivot and the end portions of which are substantially concentric thereto, and a pin received by the slot and radially movable on the housing.

14. A wrench made according to claim 13, wherein a resilient detent means is provided between the pin and the housing to hold the pin in either of two different positions in each of which one only of said concentric portions of the slot can receive it.

15. A wrench made according to claim 14, wherein each interlocking means is constituted by a pair of wedge-shaped cams one of which is on one lever and the other of which is on the other lever.

16. A wrench made according to claim 15, wherein the housing is constituted by two plates sandwiching the inner end of the handle and said levers and having oppositely located spaced segmental flanges which abut one another.

17. A wrench made according to claim 16, wherein the second pivot is in spaced portions of the housing extending from the flanges, and wherein said spring is a coil spring located in opposite notches in the levers and held in position laterally bythe housing.

18. A wrench made according to claim 17, wherein the pivoted portion between the jaws and levers enclose one opening between said spaced flanges, and wherein said handle is provided with lateral extensions normally enclosing the other opening between said spaced flanges.

CHARLES A. MILENTZ.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 296,544) De Silba Apr. 8, 1884 1,194,271 Canfield et al. Aug. 8, 1916 1,761,280 Sorensen June 3, 1930 2,594,154 Greer et a1. Apr. 22, 1952 2,618,996 Logan Nov. 25, 1952 

